Washington to County: You best talk to us if you want a jail in the Industrial Park | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

Possibly putting a new jail in the Industrial Park has taken on the image of a tennis match.

    The Washington City Council returned the serve Monday night (3-25-13) to the County Commission by taking a position, supported by staff research and legal opinions, that a jail cannot be put in the park without overcoming some serious hurdles. It seems that the zoning restrictions would not permit a jail in that area and the restrictive covenants might also have to be dealt with. Moreover, the City is a joint owner of the property.

    Consequently, it was decided that the "city would rest comfortably in its position" that in effect nothing can be done to site a jail in the Park without affirmative action by the Council.

    One might surmise that somebody (with the county) really messed up when they voted to put the jail in the Industrial Park without first involving the City in that decision.

    So the council will now wait to see if the county will lob another volley.

    You can watch the discussion below: